Boxing

DANIEL DUBOIS has called to fight Filip Hrgovic – in what could prove to be a blow for Anthony Joshua. Hrgovic is the current IBF mandatory challenger for the belt held by Oleksandr Usyk and set to be defended against Tyson Fury.
Daniel Dubois has called out Filip HrgovicCredit: Getty
Hrgovic was being lined to fight Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty
But Usyk, 37, and Fury, 35, are contracted to a two-bout deal which all-but promises a rematch.
So Hrgovic, 31, could instead be given the chance to fight for the interim belt.
After Fury suffered a cut in sparring his undisputed title decider with Usyk was postponed from February 17 to May 18.
So Joshua -previously lined up to face the winner – has since been touted to fight Hrgovic instead.
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But now Dubois has called out the Croatian after posting a clip smashing the heavy bag in training.
He said: “Hrgovic, I’m the daddy. I heard you’ve been calling out everyone else’s name but I can’t hear my name. Are you ready? I’m ready.”
Joshua, 34, returns on March 8 against ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou, 37, who controversially lost to Fury in October.
And the winner was in line to then challenge the victor between Fury and Usyk.
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But their two-fight deal looks set to rule them out from facing anybody else this year.
So Saudi’s boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh revealed talks could start between Joshua and Hrgovic.
He said on The MMA Hour: “I’ll tell you what is in my mind. If Ngannou win then he will have a rematch against the champion.
“If Joshua win and the way of the winner of Tyson/Usyk, it will be long time because they will have rematch.
“We are thinking and discussing with Joshua camp and Hrgovic camp to maybe have a fight between them. ‌
“I guarantee Usyk and he has my word, of two more big fights.”
Joshua returns on March 8 against Francis NgannouCredit: Getty More

CARL FROCH fired a chilling warning to John Fury after being called out to a fight at Wembley. The former super-middleweight champion has been outspoken ever since his retirement in 2014 and has been quick to criticise John’s son Tyson.
Carl Froch fired a chilling warning to John Fury after being called out for a fight at Wembley
Fury Sr wants to take on the former world champion
John furiously defended his boy and wants to fight Froch in the same place where ‘The Cobra’ so famously knocked out George Groves in front of 80,000.
He said: “You and me, Wembley Stadium, 93,000 crowd. I’m up for that my friend.”
But Froch was less than impressed as he responded: “The Cobra’s still in outrageous, chiselled shape.
“If you were stood across the ring from me with 10oz gloves on, it wouldn’t last very long.
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“And if you’re talking about kicking me up the a**e and giving me a slap when you see me, that’s a totally different story.
“That’s a roll around on the cobbles, and trust me you don’t want to go there with me!”
John is most notable for fathering and coaching sons Tyson and Tommy.
But he did have a professional boxing career himself, fighting 13 times with eight wins, four losses and a draw.
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And John claims to have been a fierce bare-knuckle boxer during his heyday.
Froch laughed off the Wembley Stadium showdown and insisted if they were to ever fight it would be in the name of charity.
John Fury challenges ex-world champ to huge fight at Wembley and demands ‘get the contracts signed … I won’t back out’
He said: “I’d be doing it for charity. I don’t think you’re short of a few quid, I certainly don’t need the money.
“So, if it did get to that stage just know one thing, this isn’t for financial benefit, this is for charity. Simple as that.” More

THE paydays boxing’s heavyweight superstars are set to receive for their upcoming bouts have reportedly been revealed.The division is set for a busy few months with TWO blockbuster bouts taking place in Saudi Arabia.
Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou will kick off a busy few months for the heavyweight divisionCredit: ALAMY
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight for all the heavyweight marbles on May 18Credit: EPA
Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh has spared no expense for the two fightsCredit: Alamy
Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will kick things off with a crossover clash with ex-UFC titleholder Francis Ngannou on March 8.
And a little over two months later, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will take part in the biggest fight in the division in nearly 25 years.
The pair, 35 and 37 respectively, will lock horns for all the heavyweight marbles in a long-overdue Riyadh rumble.
Saudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh has spared no expense to have Fury, Joshua, Ngannou and Usyk fight in the Kingdom.
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And the quartet’s respective purses for their upcoming bouts have reportedly been revealed.
According to a sensational report from Boxing Kingdom, Fury is set to take home a career-high £55MILLION for his undisputed dance with Usyk.
Unified king Usyk is said to be making just under HALF of Fury’s purse – walking away from the generational fight with just over £27m.
Joshua, meanwhile, is said to be on course to earn more than Usyk for his Kingdom clash with Ngannou.
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It’s claimed the Olympic gold medallist will walk away from the desert dust-up with a whopping £38m.
Ngannou, meanwhile, is said to be on course to make a cool £16m for his second Saudi slugfest.
Francis Ngannou’s boxing coach hails MMA star as ‘the hardest puncher in the world’ in stark warning to Anthony Joshua
The foursome’s actual paydays will likely not be released – unless either fighter decides to disclose them.
But what we can be sure about is that they will have received a hell of a lot more cash fighting in Saudi than they would have if the bouts took place outside of the Kingdom.
In fact, Fury recently claimed he’s only fighting Usyk for the huge cheque that will be deposited into his bank after the dust has settled.
He told DAZN “This is no more important than any of the other fights I’ve had before. To me anyway.
“To him, it might mean something much more special, I don’t know. I’ve never spoke to him about it.
“I’m just telling you the truth.
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“The truth is, it’s exciting to me and attractive because of the amount of money I’m getting paid.
“Not because of the belts that’s on the line.” More

JOHN FURY has not lacked ambition when calling out huge names in the boxing world to fight. The boxing veteran is most well known for fathering and coaching superstar sons Tyson and Tommy.
John Fury has never been shy to call out big boxing namesCredit: PA
But he also had a 8-4-1 professional boxing record and claimed to have been a fierce bare-knuckle fighter on the hard road.
His passion for his boys has led John to row with famous faces from the boxing world and resulted in wild fight call outs.
As of yet, John is yet to actually follow up on any of these challenges but here SunSport runs down the best of the bunch.
Mike Tyson
John is admittedly an Iron Mike superfan and even named champion son Tyson after the heavyweight legend.
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But it has not stopped John from wanting to fight his hero and recently laid out a challenge when Mike Tyson coached Francis Ngannou for his bout against the Gypsy King.
John said: “Here I am! Any man alive want to fight John Fury I’m here and ready to go, Mike Tyson what have you got to say to that my brother?”
John Fury wants to fight his heavyweight hero Mike TysonCredit: @boxingarabia
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Jake Paul
For two years YouTuber-turned boxer Paul terrorised John’s son Tommy about a fight and his reasons for twice pulling out.
So John lost it when the two came face to face in Dubai and roared: “Come in here! Forget my son! I’m the king of the bare knuckle man!”
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Eventually, Tommy would go onto beat Paul via split-decision in February 2023 with the pair back in talks for a rematch.
Watch John Fury rip off top and challenge Jake Paul in amazing ringside footage before being branded ‘Shrek’
Lennox Lewis/Evander Holyfield
John did not just draw the line with Tyson, he also opened the door to fighting his iconic rivals of the 1990s.
He said in 2020: “Now I’m fit, let’s talk about some proper fighting men that have had fighting experience.
“Lets go: Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson all of those men in their 50s, my age, let’s have a go.”
Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield pictured togetherCredit: Getty
Eddie Hearn
Hearn has had a frosty relationship with the Fury family amid the long-standing rivalry with his star fighter Anthony Joshua.
John has lost his cool over the brash promoter several times and at one point called to face Hearn on Joshua’s undercard.
He told The Mirror in 2022: “I’ll fight Eddie Hearn on the undercard too for the AJ fight. I’ll do that for free! If they sign the contract, I’ll box Eddie Hearn on the undercard for free!”
John Fury has feuded with Eddie Hearn amid the rivalry between Anthony Joshua and TysonCredit: Getty
David Haye
Haye famously pulled out of fighting Fury twice due to injury and the bad blood between the two has carried on even after his retirement.
The British legend had a brief comeback in 2021 for an exhibition and called out Fury afterwards – but John wanted to take the bout instead.
He told BT Sport: “I will fight David Haye, and tell him from me – I will fight him seven days a week and three times on a Sunday. You tell him.”
Carl Froch
Froch has been outspoken since his 2014 retirement and recently questioned Fury’s boxing career.
It sparked a furious reaction from John, who said:  “You and me, Wembley Stadium, 93,000 crowd. I’m up for that my friend.”
Froch hit back to instead suggest they settle the score in the name of charity.
Carl Froch was called out by John FuryCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Joe Egan
Egan is a former sparring partner of Mike Tyson’s and took acceptation to John’s challenge and suggested they fight instead.
John finally responded in a lengthy Instagram message and demanded a full fight offer be sent over in writing.
He warned in his rant: “Now it’s personal, Joe.”
Mike Tyson with former sparring partner Joe EganCredit: Joe Egan
Micky Theo
After John claimed to be the fittest man at his age alive, he was called out by former bodybuilder Theo.
And despite Theo’s best efforts to organise a fight, John refused to entertain it as an event but did claim he’d be up for a straightener.
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He said: “I’ve seen people like you all my life. I’m in shape, I’m ready to fight, cut the s***e, let’s just fight.”
Former bodybuilder Micky Theo called out John FuryCredit: @mickytheoko More

KELL BROOK is willing to come out of retirement for a blockbuster exhibition with Manny Pacquiao.The former IBF welterweight champion hung up his gloves after winning his grudge match with Amir Khan in February 2022.
Manny Pacquiao retired from boxing in September 2021 after losing to Yordenis UgasCredit: AFP
The 45-year-old is rumoured to be willing to come out of retirement this yearCredit: AP
The former eight-weight world champion has been called out by Kell BrookCredit: GETTY
Brook, however, has flirted with the prospect of returning to the ring in recent months – entertaining a domestic clash with Conor Benn.
But the Sheffield Slugger has now turned his attention to former eight-weight world champion Pacquiao – who is rumoured to be out of retirement.
Special K told Lucky Block: “I wouldn’t shy away from it if it made sense for me and boxing fans wanted to see it happen.
“Maybe we could get Amir Khan or Manny Pacquiao back in the ring.
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“Manny Pacquiao is a legend, of course I’d love to share the ring with him. It would be an honour.”
Pacquiao, 45, retired from professional boxing in September 2021 – a month after losing to WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas.
The pride of the Philippines, however, returned to the ring in December 2022 for a one-sided exhibition bout with South Korean martial artist DK Yoo.
Pacman is set to return to action in April for another exhibition against Muay Thai legend Buakaw.
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A return to the professional ranks, however, could be on the cards for the future hall of famer – who has his sights set on some big names.
His manager Sean Gibbons told Boxing Scene: “Technically, he’s out of retirement.
I fought Manny Pacquaio and Canelo but my toughest opponent was ‘the drunken master’ who’s record didn’t show his skill
“He would love to fight Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia. He’s got about a year left.
“He just wants to fight. Manny feels that he’s in tremendous shape.
“He’s training for this exhibition but hopefully that will lead to something bigger and better.
“I do [see a pro return for Pacquiao]. One of the fights that people talked about for a long time was Manny Pacquiao versus Conor McGregor.
“That’s something that will be sensational in Saudi Arabia, let’s go. It will be a good place to do it. It’s really simple.
“His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, [the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia], loves big events.
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“And he’s putting on the best events.
“It’s a very intriguing and fun fight bringing two of the biggest names together in combat sports.”
Kell Brook retired after winning his February 2022 grudge match with Amir KhanCredit: Rex
Manny Pacquiao is eyeing some big-name fights this yearCredit: REUTERS More